Cam: It’s a brand new week on Chinese Studio. Welcome to the show everyone. I’m Cam with my wonderful laoshi, Yajie.YJ: Thank you Cam, last week we talked about vacations, and usually you need to book a hotel first. Cam: Yes, I remember we learned the Chinese for hotel is-- fan dian. YJ: Right, this week we are going to learn how to book a hotel room in Chinese, and what to say when doing so.Cam: Sounds useful. Let’s begin!

*******************Key Words of the Day “Can I help you?” 我能帮您吗? “I’d like to book a room.” 我想定一个房间“For how many days? 请问您住几天? ” I’ll stay for four days. 住四天 All in today’s Chinese Studio.*******************

Yajie: So Cam, let’s say you call a hotel in Sanya on Hainan island and want to book a room. Do you know what the hotel clerk will say?Cam: I know in English it’s Can I help you.YJ: In Chinese it’s ok for you to say wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma? 我能帮您吗?Cam: wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma?YJ: wo3 means I,Cam: wo3,YJ: neng2 means could,Cam: neng2,YJ: bang1 means to help,Cam: bang1,YJ: nin2, is the polite form of ni3, which means you,Cam: nin2,YJ: ma, usually put at the end of a question,Cam: ma, YJ: wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma?Cam: wo3 neng2 bang1 nin2 ma? Can I help you? YJ: but usually the hotel clerk will say “ni2 hao3” for short. Cam: which simply means hello, I see.

YJ: Then they may ask how many days you want to stay. In Chinese it’s 请问您住几天? Cam: qing3 wen4 nin2 zhu4 ji3 tian1?YJ:qing3 wen4 means may I ask,Cam: qing3 wen4,YJ: nin2 means you,Cam: nin2, the polite form of ni3,YJ: zhu4 means to stay in hotel,Cam: zhu4,YJ: ji3 tian1. how many days,Cam: ji3 tian1,YJ: tian1 means days,Cam: tian1 How do I say I need to stay for four days?YJ: You will say….住四天.Cam: zhu4 si4 tian1. I know zhu4 means to stay in a hotel,YJ: right, si4 tian1 means four days,Cam: si4 tian1, as four in Chinese is si4, YJ: then what if you’ll stay for three days,Cam: I’ll say “zhu4 san1 tian1” as san1 means three in English,YJ: very good. Zhu4 san1 tian1, I’ll stay for three days.

Conversation 3: A: 请问您住几天?B: 住四天

*******************Key Words Reminder “Can I help you?” 我能帮您吗? “I’d like to book a room.” 我想定一个房间 “For how many days? 请问您住几天? ” I’ll stay for four days. 住四天 All in today’s Chinese Studio.*******************

Cam: We’ve reached the end already. Time for our question of the day.YJ: How do you say “I’ll stay for four days” in Chinese?Cam: See ya tomorrow! Yajie: Ming tian jian.

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